Meet ‘The Flash': First look at Grant Gustin in superhero costume

The first image of actor Grant Gustin as Barry Allen’s super-fast superhero was released Friday, highlighting the costume designed by Oscar winner Colleen Atwood.

The hero is gearing up to headline his own series for the CW, with the pilot for the new show expected to go into production next week. David Nutter will direct from a script by “Arrow” co-creators Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, who has cited Flash as his favorite comic character.

The lightning-quick DC hero has a storied history in comics. The character who becomes the fastest man alive in the wake of an accident first appeared on the paneled page in 1940 and went on to become a member of the Justice League of America.

This isn’t the Flash’s first foray into live-action television, of course. John Wesley Shipp played the hero in the short-lived CBS series “The Flash,” which ran for one season in 1990.

It’s unclear how the character’s return to television will affect Warner Bros.’ reported plans for a Flash movie, to be written by Berlanti, Johns, Marc Guggenheim, Chris Brancato and Michael Green.

Still, the CW has found success with superheroes in the past. “Smallville,” the Superman prequel series that ran for 10 seasons, garnered devoted fan support, and “Arrow” also has become a breakout hit for the network.

Are you excited to see the Flash come to television once more? What do you think of the new costume?